Postoperative Complications in Patients over 65 years of Age with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and its Influencing Factors / 대한척추외과학회지

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to decrease the frequency of the postoperative complications and to improve the postoperative clinical outcomes for the elderly patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Summery of Literature REVIEW Many controversies exist about postoperative complication and its influencing factors in the elderly patients suffering with lumbar spinal stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the hospital records of 213 patients who underwent decompression and posterolateral fusion between February 1, 1998 and December 31, 2003 to treat their degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. This study was performed, to assess and compare the postoperative complications and clinical outcomes of surgical management for the patients over 65 years (Group A) and the patients between 50-64 years (Group B). All the patients had at least a 1-year follow-up evaluation. The factors that could have influenced the complications that resulted within 12 weeks after the operation were evaluated and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Postoperative complications occurred in 62 patients of Group A and in 40 patients of Group B, of which the major complications occurred in 10 patients of Group A and in 1 patient of Group B and minor complications occurred in 52 patients of Group A and in 39 patients of Group B. A statistical relationship between diabetes and major complications was observed in Group A (p=0.005). While any relationship between age and the frequency of complication in each group was not found, Group A had a higher frequency of major complication than did Group B (p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Surgeon should be vigilant about postoperative complications in elderly patients suffering with diabetic mellitus.Elderly patients with diabetic mellitus should be made aware that they are at an increased risk for postoperative complications because of their fragility.